Automatic mine pump



Jai( 29 ,l 1.9124.

- Y1.3482 ,"238 C. LEWIS "f1 f? AUTOMATCl MINE PUMP Filed nec'jgzq, 1922 s sheets-sheet 1 l 46 4,. f w

0 0 O o o 15 Jan; 29 v, 1924.`

C. LEWIS AUTOMATIC MINE PUMP 3 Sheets-Sheef 2 Filed DeC. 5G. 1922 gvwenkoz H161 nu,

Jan. 29 1924.

C. LEWIS AUTOMATIC MINE PUMP Filed Dec. 30 1922 3 .Sheets-Sheet 3 mmf Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

MP2-Arr EN LAAS AUTOMATIC =MIN'EPD'MPi Applications*lecPDecember-JSO, 1922- Serial No.609,974.

useful Improvements Vin-- Automatic lll/lime-Av Pumps, of which the following is asp'eeief ication. i

The invention LVr-el'at'esto pumping devices hand.` The-presentinvention-makes the use of' pumpllmen unnecessary and' effects" a labor saving ofi4 thousands'ofv:dollars=an nually in every* minefinfwh'ichl it is em'- More pa-rticularlyf stated; thel obiectsvfofv theA invention are "to `n"aut'omatically` start 'the-Jl pumpv `whenfthe-water'finiithef- 'mine't has reached'. a predetermined."leveland?to aut'of matically cutoffjfthe 'powerfrom f the 'pump' when theliolehas-beenpurnped'dryil A furither obj ect is -to automaticall?)7 closethe end* of a suction pipe extendingf-into'lthewaterl hole when thewater hasibeen pumped dry,

in 'order toA keep out-theifair and alsoto holdbaclr the water init-hefpipethus keeps ing'the pump always-primed."

Another f obj-ect is Ato1 provide` animproved i form`v ofswit'ch jfor opening'eand closing thel Fig.A 2 is a frontJ view'of the operating l mechanism, y Fig is a viewtaken in line 3 3, of Fig; l,

Figbe isa sidefview'similar'to Fig; l

showing a switch operating mechanism` de?` signed" for use 'outside the mine,

Fig. k5 is a detail perspective view ofl that' part of the 'switch' operating: mechanism which iscommon tothe constructions shown in both Figsrl and 4,

Fig: 6 1is a top`-viewfoffthe` perforated water containing cupj whichV serves .tothrowA the1 switclrin the vconstlllotion shown` in` Figa-B`- is `a diagrammatic representation' of a complete pumping system, citizen lof* VtheI United fStates,- residing at'.`=` Hazard, :in: thescounty of Perry and?` State-` of Kentucky, hafv'e invented-certain newand F'g: 9 is. a topplanvvew. o f a multiple switch `designed for use with alternating current,` I

Fig; S10" is a detaillofthe Contact portioni of the switch 'and is common to both the"y single and1 multiple switches,y

Fig. l1 is a detail1of a protecting screen'.`

Lused to `keep Vout foreign materiali from the suctionI valve shown in` Fig. l.

Referring to the* drawings the numeral I leading to a sump-hole: such as frequently found in old mines; On the end of the couplinglv is Vsecured a sleeve-2 into which" is screwed a second" reducing coupling la.

`A pipe nipple 3, threaded ateach" end is screwed into the couplinglagth'e` end which "designates a reducing coupling which is del signedl to be connectedito the end of a pipe extends into the sleeve* 2 being carefully` grou-nd toservelas a valvel seat; andf pref-l erably galvanized to prevent' rusting; rllhenumeral t denotes a valve of anysuitable construction, adapted to'y fitr against theground -endof the' nipple 3; Asishown'1 the f valve 4 is provid'edwitha pluralityofflegs 6, whicheXtend into the sleeve-2*@ pre-1 venti-swaying offthefvalve, and ito guide'the same duringits opening andfclosingmove`V The legs 6 are preferablymade-"ofi-l ments. brass or other material twhich doesfnot'reactily corrode. y

Hingedly secured to the valveej is arod"- 7 whichextend's `'throughthe nipple B and is secured at'` its other endftofthelower end of a verticallleverfSwhich is shownas piv# oted`4` oir-"a rod|` 1lI secured to a washer"9 which is screwedY upontheend'of the nippleB.`

Preferablythe washer 9 is providedwith a peripheral* groove, which permits of a `-wire beingn drawn abouti the washer to hold' a protecting screenfl()l inn position.` The screen 10 iscomposedoffwireof-flne mesh,

ico

andis designedV to4 be slipped over the washer' 9 to prevent foreign substances which' may be.` present in the water in the pump hole from f entering; the nipple' 3 and clogL ging the valve4. The screenmay then be fastened on bydrawing af wire tightly around the same'at the groove in -thef-washerr Theopeningin the washer for^passingthef nipple 3 is preferably located below "the" center-f of" the/washer@ toi maireA room for they attachmentof a) lever llwhleli 1.5, XedlY fill secured to t-he front face of the washer. The screen is preferably slotted at its upper portion to pass the lever 8 thus enabling it to be readily attached or removed at will without removing the lever S.

The lever 8 is preferably forked at its upper end and is secured to a rod 12 having an elongated slot at the end where it is engaged by the forked portion of the lever 8, thus enabling the latter to be pull'ed rearwardly by a coil spring13 which is employed for the purpose of closing the valve 4. As shown, the spring .13 is secured at one end to the lever 8 at the other-vend to a vertical extension 14 of a loop or band which passes about the sleeve 2 and is preferably secured thereto I'by means of a bolt to which the spring 13 maybe attached.

The rod 12, to which the lever 8 is attached is shown as hinged at its opposite end to a bell crank 15 which is preferably journalled in the upper end of the vertical extension 14 of the loop. The bell crank 15 is preferably provided with a semicircular extension having a plurality of apertures therein by means of which the bell crank is adjustably secured to an arm 16, which is hinged at one end to the vertical extension 111 and carries a float 20 at its opposite end. This construction enables the arm to be adjusted to any desired position for use in a perpendicular or horizontal water hole.

The arm 16 may be made extensible to any desired length by the attachment of extension rod 17 which slips through a slot or loop on the end of rod 16 and is fastened by means of a band 18 provided preferably with a set screwv for tightening the same in adjusted position.

At asuitable position upon the extension 17 is secured a weight 19 which may be bolted thereto at any desired distance from its end, a plurality of bolt holes being provided for this purpose. Near the end of the float arm is secured the float 20 Which may be made of'any suitable non-corrosive material as galvanized sheet met-al or brass. The float 2() as shown in Fig. 1 is of globular shape, is hollow and air tight, and is provided with a. loop or eye for bolting it upon the end of the float arm.

T he float arm 16 is connected midway of its ends to the lower end of a lever 21. As clearly shown in Fig. 7 the lever 21 is reduced at its lower end and is provided with a base or bracket to which the reduced position is secured by means of a nut threaded upon the end thereof. This bracket is provided with a threaded connecting bolt extending laterally therefrom, and designed to be secured in anyone o-f a plurality of eyes formed in the fiat rod 16.

The lever 21 is preferably made in two pieces thus making it adjustable, the lower end of the upper portion 22 sliding through a slot or loop onfthe upper end of the lower member and being fastened by means of a band and screw at the desired position.

The upper end of the member 22 is forked as at 22L and is suitably attached to a crank 23. As shown the forked portions are provided with `elongated slots4 which permit limited vertical movement relative to the ends of the crank arm 23. The crank may be provided with rolle-rs 24, one at each side, where the crank passes through the slots in the forks.` The rollers are flanged at each end, the forks of the lever 22 fitting inside the flanges, thus holding` the crank 23 steady.

A coil spring 25 normally holds the fork in tension against the crank 23, and is shown as attached at one end to the latter by means of a suitable. bearing. The opposite end of the spring 25 is attached to a bracket 26 which is adjustably secured by means of a bolt to one of the forks of the member 22.

As most clearly shown in Fig. 3, the bracket 26 has in addition to the arm to which the spring 25 is attached, a second arm parallel thereto, to which is secured a vertical fork 26u having a loop 27 formed integral therewith, the spring 25 passing through and being guided within the loop, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. It will be noted that the horizontal member of the crank 23 fitsv between two forwardly extending arms of the vertical fork.

As shown the crank 23 is supported from hangers `2S depending from a fixed frame member, bearings 29l being provided therein as shown in Fig. .3. An arm 30 of the crank 23 extends rearwardly from the crank and is hinged at the rear end to a lever or vertical arm 31 connected to the vertically swinging member 32 of a knife switch. The

member 32 is hinged as at 33 to a bracket' 332L and carries at its forward rnd a switch point which is adapted to be brought into contact with a fixed fork 35 of the switch, thereby closing an electric circuit, the terminals of which are indicated by reference numerals 36 and 37. This circ-uit includes a pump illustrated diagrammatically at 3S which may be located at any convenient point adjacent the pipe line which leads from the sump hole. Preferably the switch is provided with a covering which protec'ts it from the moisture.

The operation of the device will be evident. As the water rises the arm 16 is automatically raised by means of the float 20 thus pushing the rod 12 rearwardly and releasing` the upper end of lever 8 whereby the suction within the pipe line automatically opens the valvel 4 for pumping. The

'spring 13 is not ofv sufficient strength to prev nt valve 4 being opened by suction when the lever 3 has been released by rais- Sie.

l which is notpoompletelyushown' in they Idraw hole;r below a; determined level; i

Asathe level of the;water.'-risesvthefloat` 20 .lifts the arm'fl and .i raisesfthe'flever211,

ing thezfloatfarmxQO ibut-.is merely sufficient to keep thevalve'et` tightlyrolosedi when suc. tion. in .they pipe` linee;` `1s released-` and i. serves tol'fkeep: the .pumpI `primed for resumption.,

of pumping'fatf'anyV 1 time;

As the level olf-thel \vater'intheuholelis loweredsv the;v float#` ar-mxis automatic-ally :lowe

eredi. by,"` means .of the weight: 19, y thereby -1 drawingthe; upperf end .Lof .lever 8 forwardlyf and', the..- lower: end` rearwardly i thusclosingr the1valve 4f'. Thelweightl) is Vsuilicientrtov4 prevent:suction.fromi opening the valvel and theflloat 2Ofis:ofrsufiicientA size to:` raise the weight: 19 asa.l the` g level q fof the water.; rises; w

Thel oatifarm': 16 falsoi operates', through..-

the-lever-2l .andfotherconnections, toautomatioally open and close 1 the electric cutout switch which controls the operation of ther.`

pump 38which keeps theiwaterin the pump andmember` 22. The lower forwardly projectngi arm*` ofthe vertical fork 26 carried `by the .member122jbears aa'gainst` the `horizontal/:darm: of" the crank,23zraisingfzit to= thet horizontal position, after which the spring 25 .foperates,ztof` quickly throw-the cranks. .to its uppermost position at whichiitis arrested Eby.l thefupper memberf of` the vertical: fork;

See f FigrvL This movement ofi: the f* cra-nk 23 -isftransmitted through VleversV 30: and@ 31 to the'fknife yswitclr32,...the` pointeof .whichV is forced:` between lthe rollers 34:1i and: spring :Contact members of the fork135;- seerFig: :10;

Throwing f vthe;` switch: B4: closes: Fa circuit ingszzbutfisindicatedfin Figrl and includes the terminals 36,37and'1thepumpi 38 shown f"diagrammaticallyn -and preferably located within ,thefsumpfvhole.. Ther pump', of course,

The rollers 34 in the connecting switchI serve to= prevent any arc as the switch isl thrown-or pulled. Thezlevel to whichthe water-rises mayL fbe regulated'byj adjusting the point `ofcon-` 11ection-between the end 1 oi'V theV lever 21 andn thefoatarm 516. l The switch shown inFig.` 9 isfdesigned` for use with alternating current but` operates` uponf the/same principle as the one already` described For athree lphase `motor usingal ternatingycurrent:three wires .are necessary.' and: three:knife-'switcheszare provided, each:` belngwconnectedto an: insulating rod 'or cyl-` -i'nder `140;;wh1ch'isa-1|ournalledr: asr4f2.` For .die 1 or1 with( an ex-` 1 rect current only fthe.center'.-conneotng.`

The vertioalleverwl.: operatedb-y the arm to fthey center `memberri only` of the: switch,

:30 of; the a crank23i`s in Athis' vcase connected;

Il) i.

buts .by`r throwing sthis; member f the' other. two 11 will .also befithrown: ,1, Wherefit isrdesire-dirto: f

- switch only. is used, the others members be f ving' made fdetachablez' from.v rthe: linsulating `member` While` according toi the; preferred: embodimentlA of the 1 invention l both the pump i con:-

the lend:l of;- the suction:` Apipe aref operated l is evidentY that s each' maygbeu separately conu trolled.

Also; 'while in. theP constructionfshowna1in: Fig. l. the; arm-:16de operatedr byzmeans fofi'a float i 20,1 which rests up'on. the surface of the water, it lisxevidentthat othervmeans', conuse this-switch` for `dinecl', scurrent: the'. center: u

trolling switch `and :thezvalve which controls,"v

together by means off the singlej arm 1 16,1 it t trolled by operation ofthepump, maybel employed;

In F igss 4, 6andx8 there: is shown'acon# struction in which;l .theL partsadesignated.: by f like-reference snumera'lsfarefthel same in' their` operation as the equivalent parts in thecon-, Y structionzA previously" ldescribedf.V i. The` con'- struction shownv in'fFitgsufll, 6 and.8 iszde signed for use outside Voffthe mine"` andi may lbe employed feitherw separately i 'orf :in f con` L junction :with a switch andacheclkf valve: oli"y the* I .typev shown'` inLFig.` lf 1 Asfshownfin Figul only vthe `autol'l'iadLic.fcutot switchis operated `armxf 17' there isa1 substitutedl n. water discharge Vpana 43%: which f is Iplaced `near then end of:4 a wdischargewpipe, markedf` B,

by vertical stand pipes F and G within vari-` ouszsump' holesfl and 1'11 i'nfa mine orother place wheref water-has accumulated.` w, The watery is :started: flowing.'` in ethellinev by' means;y

located atzthexendiof a` pipe: line connected started it will f .continueV until? the `water is drained 'owing to) sipfh'onlike'A actionz ofthe pipelineandff-vertioal pipes iF and l f Whentthe'waten isowing'freely the water dischargedfrom `the pipeB keeps. the.j pan 43D to lower the@` armlllagainst.the-pullfof a the switch in the same mannerasfpreviously described andi opening-v ;the circuit which filled;` Theaweight ofrthewater'is sufficient t lightfspring 44(seefFg. 4) thereby?` pulling operates Jthe pump-LA. As'longL as.the'fwate1-"` continues :toi iow` freely the? pan? 43 l is keptv waterxin f the .pani leaks; oututhrough a pluralityioff'smallgholes inthe bottom'of the pair` whereupon" the springAL-L *returns` the arm lf3-+17*toithepositiongshown innF-ig; 4*. thusY throwing'the .iswitchfv andiwstarting the; pump; f Preferably-the dischargepipefof thelpump' full of water, but when the `ow ceases the.

A communicates with the lower portion of a barrel or tank C, near the top of the barrel to which is connected a pipeI D which discharges into the pan 4:3. When the barrel C is iilled from the discharge of the pump the water running through the pipe Dpulls the pan down, as described, throwing the switch and allowing water to flow through the end ofthe discharge pipe B, which keeps the pan down and the power ottv the pump A until the water ceases flowing.

The barrel C should be provided with a plurality of small holes in its side be* tween the level at which the discharge pipe of the pump is connected and the level at which the pipe D leaves the barrel. This arrangement allows the water to fall a few inches below the pipe D after the pump has ceased to operate and thus allows the pump to continue to operate for a Jfew moments after starting so that a free tlow is insured before the discharge from' the pipe D pulls the switch and stops the motor.

Any water which may be left in the barrel C when the pump A stops, flows back through the pump discharge pipe, and keeps the pump always primed, ready to resume pumping at any time.

Near the end of the discharge pipe 'B of the main pipe line a check valve E should be placed which prevents air coming-back through the end of the discharge pine while the pump is running. The end of the pipe B should be turned slightly upward which will insure its always holding suiiicient water on the check valve to keep the same tightly sealed against the admission of air.

For convenience the pump A, check valve E, barrel C, and the automatic cutout switch H should all be placed as near together as possible and near the end of the discharge pipe B.

To prevent the switch II, which is located on the outside of the mine from starting again as soon as the water ceases flowing and before the sump holes 1 and l1 have again filled a second automatic switch K of the type shown and described in connection with Figs. l and 2 should be placed at the end of a suction pipe in one of the water holes. Thus power will not be furnished to the pump until the water` hole has again filled to the determined level as the electric power line runs directly to the automatic cutout switch outside the mine. v

The auxiliary cutout switch should 'be placed in the hole furnishing the most water, thus insuring that all the holes are dry1 when the power is cut off.

If all the pump holes furnish the same amount of water the check valve at the end of one suction pipe may 'be tightened by adjusting the coil spring 13 or by inserting` a stronger spring which causes the valveto admit water very'slowly 'thus insuring that the hole in which this valve is placed will be the lastone to be pumped dry.

Each of the water holesI must be with the automatic check valve, but it necessary to use the complete apparatus including the switch in one hole only;

Where the end ot' the discharge. pipe B does not have sufficient pull to draw the water out of the mine after being started by the pump, it is not necessary to use any ot the apparatus described on the outside ot the mine, as the pump must be run continuously as long as there remains any water to be pumped. In such case the pump is located within the mine together with an automatic starting box which is used for starting a pump gradually in a known manner.

Then the apparatus is properly installed, it will be seen that water may be automatically pumped from a mine or place where water accumulates and as soon as the mine is dry the power is automatically cutoff. The services of pumpmen are thus completely replaced and a saving ot' many thousands o't' dollars per year in labor costs is eitected.

While the device has been described with great particularity` in order that a clear understanding of the operationot the device may be had it will be evident. that many of the details may bevaried without departing from the spirit of the invention which is to be limited only by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a mine pumping device in combinalwater in the hole for regulating the operation of the pump and said suction valve.

2. In a mine pumping device, in combina tion, a suction pipe having communication with a water hole, a check valve located within saidpipe, a pump also communicating withsad pipe and adapted'to initiate furnished the flow of water therein, and common means operated in accordance with the amount ot water in the hole for regulating the operation ot' the pump and said suction valve, said means comprising' an arm bearing a float adjacent one end thereof, connecting levers between the opposite end of said arm and said valve, a regulating switch for said pump, and connecting levers between said switch and said arm.

3. In a mine pumping device in combina tion, a suction pipe having communication with a water hole, a check valve located within said pipe and adapted to initiate the flow of water therein, and common means operated in accordance with'the level of the water in the hole for regulating the operation of the pump and said suction valve, said means comprising a float, and levers connecting said float with the suction valveI and a pump controlling switch respectively.

4. In a mine pumping device, in combination, a motor driven pump, a power circuit for controlling the pump, a knife switch 1ocated within the circuit, a suc-tion pipe communicating with a water hole and having a check valve therein, and common means operated in accordance with the level of the water in the hole for operating said switch and said check valve.

5. In a mine pumping device, in combina tion, a suction pipe having communication with a water hole, a check valve located within said pipe, an electrically driven pump also communicating with said pipe and adapted to initiate the flow of water therein, a power circuit for controlling the pump, a knife switch located within the circuit, a float operated in accordance with the level of the water in the mine, a float arm connected thereto, a vertical lever con nected thereto having its upper portion forked and slotted, a crank arm journalled in fixed frame members and passing through said slotted forks, a vertical bracket secured to one of said forks and having forwardly projecting portions which straddle said crank arm, said crank arm being connected with said switch, whereby raising or lowering said float arm beyond a certain level automatically operates said switch, and other connections between the said fioat arm and the said check valve.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a suction pipe communicating with a water hole, a pump communicating with said suction pipe, a check valve located within one end of said pipe, a oat arm operated in accordance with the level of the water within said hole, a pump controlling switch and adjustable means for connecting said fioat arm with said check valve and said pump controlling switch re- Spectively.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature CHESTER LEWIS. 

